Laura Ellen Hurst

Ellen grew up in Lubbock with her brother William (Bayless), Laura Yates (Crowder) mother, and step-father Donald Yates. She graduated from Lubbock High School in 1977 and from Texas Tech University in 1985 with a B.A. degree in Latin. In 1977, she married the love of her life, James Michael (Roundman) Hurst. The nickname came from Roundman’s love of playing Bridge and “rounding out the foursome.” Their wedding was held in the Broadway Drug store in Lubbock and was attended by many notable people including Preston Smith, Jack Davis, Burl Pig and Joe Ely.

Ellen and Roundman moved to Oklahoma where she attended FAA Air Traffic Controller School. After realizing she was too sensitive to be an Air Traffic Controller, Ellen and Roundman moved to Austin where they continued to grow together and thrive until Roundman’s sudden death in 2012. Ellen worked at the State of Texas Department of Health then transitioned to the computer software industry where she excelled as a Senior Customer Service Manager for several companies. She was highly skilled in negotiating, Project Management and Operations Management.

In 2021 Ellen was diagnosed with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma, which ultimately metastasized to her bones. Ellen fought long and hard against this evil disease and never gave up the fight which she eventually won.

Ellen had a great sense of humor, an unmatched work ethic, and did anything and everything to put everyone at ease. She had the heart of a lion and long beautiful hair, which everyone loved. She loved all creatures, but especially cats. Ellen became a Certified Crystal Healer in 2015 and loved to make beads and charm bracelets with her nieces and friends. She was an amazing photographer, avid reader and loved to travel. In her own words, she said “I’m a bird-watcher, stargazer, cloud dreamer, tree hugger, flower freak, rock and crystal child....Work like you don’t need the money; Love like you’ve never been hurt; Dance like no one is watching!” After she lost her leg, she changed that saying to dance like everyone is watching. And she did just that. Ellen loved life and loved her family, which in her words was either the family you were born into, married, or the ones you chose.

She was an advocate for animal welfare, civil rights and social action, the environment, and human rights. Her favorite quote and the way she lived her life was from Mark Twain. “Years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the things you did do. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor, and catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

She is survived by her cats, Bogey, Birdie, and Penny, her very close friends, Amy, Mary, and Denice as well as her brother Bayless and his family, Pamela (wife), Liam (son), and daughters, Sara, Aletheia and Claire. The entire Hurst clan of the Panhandle of Texas as well as thousands of people whose lives she touched.

A Celebration of Life will be held in her honor on May 4, 2024,at 11:11 a.m. at Weed Corley Fish Funeral Home on Parkcrest in Austin. The dress is casual, and it's suggested you dress in Ellen’s favorites of bright blue, turquoise, or teal.

In lieu of flowers, Ellen preferred that donations be made to DenMar’s Animal Refuge Network https://www.darnnetwork.org/